The document outlines four principles for a successful divorce according to attorney Arlene Kock: 1) Perspective - Difficult exchanges with an ex will fade over time and seeking guidance can help resolve issues. 2) Patience - The legal process takes time to properly address property division, custody, and parenting plans. 3) Pick your battles - Avoid wasting time and money fighting over minor issues and focus on important matters. 4) Power is knowledge - Understanding legal rights and guidance from an attorney can simplify the process.

1. FOUR PRINCIPLES
LEADING TO A
SUCCESSFUL DIVORCE
Attorney Arlene Kock

2.  Years of experience in the field of family law
have helped me understand the key essentials
of what a client needs to know when
embarking upon their divorce journey. I hope
you find the principles I've listed below of
assistance as you take the next steps to
change your life;

3. 1) Perspective: This too shall
pass
 Perspective: This too shall pass
 When a person is locked in ugly exchanges with their ex over
property, parenting, or support, they can feel as if these
issues and conflicts will never go away. Believe it or not, they
do fade and at some point your life will settle down in some
new order. Seeking proper guidance professionally and
through legal assistance may help alleviate some of the initial
problems that you encounter when you begin this journey.
Having conversations with your ex when you are armed with
proper legal knowledge will contribute to a better
understanding of how to deal with these conflicts and what
the issues really are that must be decided either by the
parties or by the court.

4. 2) Patience: It takes time to do it
right
 Patience: It takes time to do it right
 Getting things done in our family law court process has
become a lot more efficient than it has been in the past but it
still takes time to work through issues and resolve them.
When it comes to property division, there's a requirement that
the parties provide full disclosure and exchanges of
information between them before they can embark upon a
meaningful discussion on dividing property. Child custody and
parenting time issues also require careful attention and
development. The division of a household will be a new
experience for the children. Parents who are working in the
most collaborative framework can serve as ambassadors for
their children as they develop a parenting time plan that is in
the children's best interests. Sometimes it's necessary to
experiment with parenting time share models to get it right.

5. 3) Pick your battles: fight for the
important stuff
 Pick your battles: fight for the important stuff
 What can really drag out in the divorce process is
quibbling about issues that should be quickly
resolved. The value of personal property and
household items value not be a point of contention
between the parties. Fighting over 15 or 20 minute
differences in scheduling pick up or drop off of a child
also is detrimental to the parties ability to work
smoothly through elements of the case. Significant
time expended on these issues is both emotionally
costly and financially costly. Delays in proceeding on
the case and multiple court appearances take their toll
on the fair and efficient completion of a family law
case.

6. 4) Power is knowledge
 Power is knowledge
 Making the right decisions concerning how the
divorce process operates, what your legal rights
are, and where the conflict truly lies are features
that can drag down the efficiency in moving
through a case. One of the many benefits of
having legal counsel representation is receiving
the guidance of the skilled family law practitioner
every step of the way as you go through the
divorce process. It's very hard to direct where
you're going if you don't have a plan and
understand what would be in your best interests
legally.

7.  Being faced with the divorce process is
daunting for anyone. Simplifying the process
with professional guidance and understanding
one's legal rights will take a tremendous
burden off of a family law litigant. No one can
ever say that a divorce is easy but this legal
process can be a lot more efficient and less
painful if the four principles set forth in this
article are applied.